There’s a song. . . and a story. As for the song, this is an unlicensed use of the melody from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” along with some of his timeless lyrics to other songs which were used in the bridge, including the beautiful “One Love.”
As a legal disclaimer, I’m not trying to sell this song or profit from it in anyway.
It’s just a fun idea I had and a wish I had to make it “real” and work with some of my very talented friends. What transpired in the creation of the song (and the card art) was kind of magical. . . the Christmas Carol is a story that touches (pretty much) every facet of the human condition and asks us all to reflect and allow ourselves to envision the possibility that everyone can change. It’s a story of hope and reclamation, or redemption. Through Tiny Tim, I see mankind as a hopeful young man eager to see the best in everyone, eager to see beyond his condition and hope the best for others. When I took Bob Marley’s words, “Don’t worry, about a thing, ’cause every little thing, gonna be alright” and changed them to “Don’t worry, about Tiny Tim, cause tiny Tiny Tim, gonna be alright,” I realized that they’re very much saying the same thing. Waking to a sun rising and birds singing is the essence of hope for a new day and new way for all of us. Every day is a chance to change and make a difference in someone else’s life and indeed, the world.
Bob’s music was rich in philosophy and soul. So was Charles Dickens’ writing. Am I really the first person to put them together? . . Am I the unlikely conduit for combing them both into a Reggae Christmas Carol?
Maybe. What I do know is this. . . Little things make a difference. Sending a greeting card with a small inscription makes a difference. The beautiful words of holidays songs make a difference. A greeting card and a song? Super cool :0)
Below is the player where you can hear the song. I hope you enjoy it and it makes you remember the little things. . . the Tiny Tims. If you want to hear more about the creative process and story behind the song you can continue to read after you give a listen. . . Happiest of Holidays to you and yours~ and all the best for the New Year!
Peace,
Brad & Beth Gilchrist
I’m a huge fan of “Scrooge- A Christmas Carol,” the 1951 British movie version of the Dicken’s classic.
Alistair Sim’s performance as Scrooge is the ultimate (in my humble opinion) and a late night watch of the DVD is all it takes to put me in the spirit. So, last year (2024) I was sitting in my studio in mid-November trying to come up with ideas for our annual Christmas card, when somehow, Jacob Marley and Bob Marley met somewhere in my mind and I came up with the notion of Jacob singing, “Don’t worry, ’bout Tiny Tim. . . ‘cuz tiny Tiny Tim, gonna be alright.” Bringing the beauty and simplicity of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” into a scene on Christmas morning. . . why not? I jotted some more lyrics and then realized it would be even cooler if I could put together some friends and actually record the song to accompany the card.
Now. . . that would take some time and I was already “at deadline” for getting a card off to a printer if there was any hope of getting it out by Christmas.
I opted for “Plan J (Jayme)” asking my daughter Jayme to draw a picture of our new family member, Leo and we could put that on the card for 2024. Jayme came through and created an adorable card and the “Marley Mash Up” was shelved for 2025.
November 2025. . . time to start working on the next Christmas card and I started thinking about how to make the Marley Card recording a reality. So, I reached out to some of the talented people I worked with (before my “retirement”) at CT State Asnuntuck- Kellie Payne who is a radio personality in Springfield and singer in her church choir and other vocal groups, Mark Lyons, a Guitar teacher who also plays in several bands (one that is a Bob Marley Tribute Band), Nathan Thibadeau (drummer and IT specialist, also in the Marley Tribute Band and another band with Mark), and former student, Security Guard and super human being, Ajzhante (AJ) White (who also sang in Kellie’s church choir).
Artwise, I got the drawing done in about a week and got that off to the printer. It was fun getting back to the nitty gritty of using a brush and pens again. . . and digging out my old Mac G4 with Photoshop 5 on it. . . a relic from the days when you bought the software and didn’t have to pay a monthly subscription. Fortunately, it still works and I could still remember how to work it!
Back to the music. . .
The long story shortened . . . Mark liked the idea and within a couple days creates a base melody track in his home recording studio. By the weeks end, Kellie, AJ and Mark’s wife, Jessica Rose had layed down chorus and bridge vocals. The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come never sounded better.
A few days later, Kellie brings in Cedric Dion Rivers, the Music Director of her church Praise Group to sing the lead vocals and just like a magic Christmas morning, it all came together. Calling it magic isn’t a stretch. . . when Cedric sang the lead vocals, we knew we had the right voice. Then we asked him to adlib with “whatever feels right”. . . a couple “we’re singings” a “yeah” or two. . . but Wow. . . suddenly the ghostly “whooo’s” emerged and the character of the song took form. Mark plays all of the instuments, mixed and fixed everything and we got it done a week before Christmas.
So. . . what’s to become of the song? I’ve copyrighted my lyrics, but to license the music is not “in my league,” nor do I want anything out there that the Marley family might find “offensive” or improper. Therefore, it’s just a fun song, and a Blog Post that I hope you and yours will enjoy. I did discover that one of our “ghosts” also has a connection to Ziggy Marley and I’m hoping he’ll be able to hear the song. . . maybe even think it’s worth recording?
Whatever comes from it, it was a great experience and I’m truly blessed to have these talented friends. Thank you all for your work and friendship!
L>R: Kellie & Mark, a couple birds holding a place for Cedric & AJ